Hey, it's me, the guest blogger - -
Here is Olivia watching her favorite video:
And here is Olivia showing us her baby bottle trick:
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
CRS
I booked a flight to visit my parents earlier this week. For the return trip, I decided to diversify the risk of sitting next to someone who hated toddlers (or worse, had a toddler of their own.) I booked a flight with a connection in the midwest. The flight I chose had a connection through IAD, which looked good to me. I figured that Indianapolis was a small regional hub and I've always had great success flying through regional hubs like Minneapolis and Cleveland.
My father pointed out that IAD is actually Dulles International. I have no idea why I thought IAD was Indianapolis. I'm a pretty savvy traveler and have booked plenty of my own plane tickets, including flights to visit friends and relatives in DC. I blame it on parental dementia, or 'CRS' as my friend Andrea calls it (can't remember s%$#) I'm hoping I can change the flight, as flying through IAD introduces the worst of two worlds -- a long cross country flight AND a potential issue during the layover.
My father pointed out that IAD is actually Dulles International. I have no idea why I thought IAD was Indianapolis. I'm a pretty savvy traveler and have booked plenty of my own plane tickets, including flights to visit friends and relatives in DC. I blame it on parental dementia, or 'CRS' as my friend Andrea calls it (can't remember s%$#) I'm hoping I can change the flight, as flying through IAD introduces the worst of two worlds -- a long cross country flight AND a potential issue during the layover.
Bay Area Public Transit
A coworker today told me about a new luxury commuter bus running the Marin-SF line. I should note that I love taking the bus (and hate driving,) so I'd always be game for a new bus line.
On that note, one of the big problems with Bay Area Public Transit is a failure to coordinate across the various systems. It does seem pretty ridiculous that Golden Gate Transit essentially drives a bunch of busses downtown, leaves them there all day, then has the same driver drive them back at the end of the day. Maybe San Francisco could think of a way to lease those busses from GGT during the day. It's also ridiculuous that if I wanted to commute from my house to my office in San Francisco, I'd have to take 3 separate transit systems and pay three fares. (It would cost me $1.75 + $3.50 + $1.50)
Another fun Bay Area transit tradition is Casual Carpool (which we drive every day.) There are designated areas where commuters can line up to be picked up by drivers driving into the city. It used to be a casual word of mouth thing, but it's organized now to the point of having a website.
On that note, one of the big problems with Bay Area Public Transit is a failure to coordinate across the various systems. It does seem pretty ridiculous that Golden Gate Transit essentially drives a bunch of busses downtown, leaves them there all day, then has the same driver drive them back at the end of the day. Maybe San Francisco could think of a way to lease those busses from GGT during the day. It's also ridiculuous that if I wanted to commute from my house to my office in San Francisco, I'd have to take 3 separate transit systems and pay three fares. (It would cost me $1.75 + $3.50 + $1.50)
Another fun Bay Area transit tradition is Casual Carpool (which we drive every day.) There are designated areas where commuters can line up to be picked up by drivers driving into the city. It used to be a casual word of mouth thing, but it's organized now to the point of having a website.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
More on traveling with infant.
My father sent me this article from the NYTimes Frugal traveler blog today.
I have to scoff at yet another recommendation to travel with a bag full of wrapped toys? We are lucky to make it to the gate on time with enough diapers and clothes for the flight. During one flight within Asia, we even forgot to bring an extra pair of pants for Olivia (of course, she wet her first pair.) Several colleagues have recommended portable DVD players or iPods with movies. But I could see the baby crying (loudly) when the thing runs out of batteries. And how do they use the headphones? (I suppose the visual stimulation is enough.)
I'm in the midst of planning another trip with Olivia. I guess I should start wrapping presents for her now.
I have to scoff at yet another recommendation to travel with a bag full of wrapped toys? We are lucky to make it to the gate on time with enough diapers and clothes for the flight. During one flight within Asia, we even forgot to bring an extra pair of pants for Olivia (of course, she wet her first pair.) Several colleagues have recommended portable DVD players or iPods with movies. But I could see the baby crying (loudly) when the thing runs out of batteries. And how do they use the headphones? (I suppose the visual stimulation is enough.)
I'm in the midst of planning another trip with Olivia. I guess I should start wrapping presents for her now.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
traveling with baby
I took several domestic trips alone with Olivia last year, and a trans continental trip on which Spencer accompanied me. I've had several friends ask me for advice about traveling with baby recently. So I don't forget, I'm writing a blog post about tips for traveling with baby.
Travel early and often: Between 4 months and 9 months seemed like the easiest time to travel (once the body was a bit solid, the poops less frequent, but while they were still happy being held in your lap.) In many ways, traveling with baby is EASIER than traveling without a baby. For one, on a trans-continental flight, you are likely to be offered the bulkhead seat. Much nicer than sitting with some guys' tray table in your lap for 14 hours. Better yet, you'll probably get a bassinet seat. There are other perks -- using the first class line in security. And don't forget that once your kid turns 2, you'll be plunking down $600 to get him or her across the country.
Minimize transfers: The hardest part of traveling solo with baby is dealing with the transfers. Getting up and down escalators or in and out of busses with baby AND luggage. Trips where you have someone meeting you on the other end are very doable. Getting a Eurail pass and backpacking across Europe will probably have to wait.
Play luggage roulette: It's much easier to check your bag in than to try to navigate through the airport with extra luggage.
Bringing the stroller/carseat to the gate?: The wheels are nice to have if you're traveling solo, it's nice to have a place to put the baby down when you use the lavatory or wash your hands while waiting for your flight (I have been luckly that I have never had a significantly delayed flight while traveling solo with Olivia.) But it is hassle to deal with luggage, baby, and stroller through security and boarding. After a couple trips, I started skipping the stroller and just using the soft carrier. If you are bringing stroller, the easiest thing to do is to also bring a Bjorn or other soft carrier and wear the baby through security while pushing the stroller (with your diaper bag in the stroller seat.) Now that Olivia is bigger, I will probably start bringing the stroller again.
What to bring on board:
Other travel thoughts:
Travel early and often: Between 4 months and 9 months seemed like the easiest time to travel (once the body was a bit solid, the poops less frequent, but while they were still happy being held in your lap.) In many ways, traveling with baby is EASIER than traveling without a baby. For one, on a trans-continental flight, you are likely to be offered the bulkhead seat. Much nicer than sitting with some guys' tray table in your lap for 14 hours. Better yet, you'll probably get a bassinet seat. There are other perks -- using the first class line in security. And don't forget that once your kid turns 2, you'll be plunking down $600 to get him or her across the country.
Minimize transfers: The hardest part of traveling solo with baby is dealing with the transfers. Getting up and down escalators or in and out of busses with baby AND luggage. Trips where you have someone meeting you on the other end are very doable. Getting a Eurail pass and backpacking across Europe will probably have to wait.
Play luggage roulette: It's much easier to check your bag in than to try to navigate through the airport with extra luggage.
Bringing the stroller/carseat to the gate?: The wheels are nice to have if you're traveling solo, it's nice to have a place to put the baby down when you use the lavatory or wash your hands while waiting for your flight (I have been luckly that I have never had a significantly delayed flight while traveling solo with Olivia.) But it is hassle to deal with luggage, baby, and stroller through security and boarding. After a couple trips, I started skipping the stroller and just using the soft carrier. If you are bringing stroller, the easiest thing to do is to also bring a Bjorn or other soft carrier and wear the baby through security while pushing the stroller (with your diaper bag in the stroller seat.) Now that Olivia is bigger, I will probably start bringing the stroller again.
What to bring on board:
- Bjorn or other soft carrier.
- 1.5-2x the number of diapers and wipes that you estimate you need for the flight.
- Plastic bags in which to dispose of used diapers
- 2 extra sets of clothing for child
- one extra set of clothes for yourself
- Water bottle (those plastic cups are an extra hassle with a baby in your lap.)
- A small bag to put under the seat which holds diapers and wipes.
- Herbal tea bags (you get dehydrated and cold nursing like I did)
Other travel thoughts:
- Wear clogs or slip off shoes
- If possible, don't carry a computer.
- As long as your baby carrier doesn't have metal buckles, you can wear it through the metal detector.
- If your baby needs changing within 10 minutes of boarding time, either wait to do it on the plane or discretely change the diaper at the gate (yeah, the other passengers don't want to see it, but I almost missed a flight because of a line at the changing station and a triple poop.)
- Nurse during takeoff and landing to prevent earaches for the baby.
- Aisle seats are easier than window
- Change the diapers in the bathroom, not at the seat. Yeah, we broke this rule on our first trip with Olivia, but we weren't wise to the ways of being parents yet.
More from Margaret - from my visit to Berkeley
Spencer and Julian in Japantown - - -
and Olivia's approval:
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